HARRISBURG, PA — In what they say is an effort to ensure safety of public water supplies and increase consumer protection, the House Professional Licensure Committee heard testimony on February 12 from Pennsylvania plumbers on the importance of a state licensing program for the trade, said Rep. Jim Christiana, author of a bill to establish such a program.

Christiana’s bill, House Bill 1357, would ensure plumbers licensed through the program have the knowledge and training needed to protect public health and the environment. “With the recent water supply crisis in Flint, MI, it’s more important than ever that we have a uniform set of standards in place for the plumbing industry. These men and women are responsible for ensuring our water supplies are safe and our drainage systems are working properly. With a state-certified license, our contractors can reassure their customers that they are properly trained in the field.”

Testifiers at the hearing included representatives from statewide plumbers’ unions and small business owners, as well as members of the Pennsylvania Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association, and Associated Builders.

“We have union plumbers and non-union plumbers working together in support of this legislation, and it’s something they all want to see signed into law,” Christiana said. “They also acknowledge a need for a way to differentiate between highly skilled and trained professionals and those who are not.”